HEARTS striker Kevin Kyle is to undergo further surgery at the end of this month in a bid to save his career after a year-long absence with a hip injury.

Hearts striker Kevin Kyle is to undergo further surgery at the end of this month in a bid to save his career after a year-long absence with a hip injury.

The 30-year-old last kicked a ball in the Scottish Cup fourth-round clash with St Johnstone on January 11, 2011 but hopes an operation next week will solve his persistent hip complaint.

Kyle said: “I’ve overcome some things in life and this has been one of the hardest.

“Nobody’s said I’ll have to retire. I’ve got a chance and hopefully the option I’ve got will work.

“I just don’t believe for a minute I need to finish football and I’m hoping the surgery will sort all that and give me everything I need to push on again.

“I hope it’s just an impingement, where two bones are rubbing and they can be shaved or smoothed.

“Hopefully that will put an end to this saga and I can resume my football career. I never envisaged it would take this long. I’d just like to get back playing, even if it’s for one season.”

After consultations with numerous specialists, Kyle has had a 3D picture of his hip joint produced, showing signs of various issues, including arthritis, something the surgeon is not too concerned about.

Kyle, who had hip trouble while at Sunderland earlier in his career, hopes the latest surgery will cure his problem.

He said: “If I don’t recover from this surgery, I’ll know the situation, I’ll know what’s wrong with me and I’ll know why I can’t play football.

“Hopefully this will be the improvement needed to return to professional football.”

Kyle’s Hearts contract expires at the end of the current campaign, two years after he signed from Killie.

But the ex-Scotland striker hopes to be given a chance to stay.

He said: “The surgery will mean I’ll hardly feature again this season but if I can get myself fit and Hearts made an offer, I’d be more than happy.”